Orlando Retains Roberts

August 8, 1992|By TIM POVTAK, The Orlando Sentinel

Magic General Manager Pat Williams returned to his office Friday to find messages from two NBA teams. Only an hour before, the Magic had announced the signing of Shaquille O`Neal and the decision to retain the rights to free agent Stanley Roberts.

The messages were similar -- offering congratulations and offering to take Roberts in a trade.

Williams just smiled.

``The phone will ring off the hook,`` he said.

When the Magic accomplished Friday what most around the league thought was impossible -- getting both centers under contract -- the franchise improved its future considerably.

Although the Magic have no vision of a Twin Towers concept -- using both 7-footers at the same time -- they are ecstatic about having two of the most promising young centers in the NBA. O`Neal is 20; Roberts, 22.

The reason is value.

O`Neal, who signed a 7-year contract estimated at $40 million, is considered the team`s center of the present and future. Roberts, in his second NBA season, may not have as much potential as O`Neal, but he has the attention of almost every other NBA team.

``Don`t underestimate the value of Stanley Roberts,`` said John Gabriel, the Magic`s director of player personnel. ``That was why it was so important to retain him. He has shown the potential to be an outstanding NBA center.``

The Dallas Mavericks liked him enough to sign him to a 5-year, $15 million offer sheet, giving the Magic 15 days to match that offer or lose him without compensation.

That is what prompted the Magic to work so furiously the past two weeks to sign O`Neal, making sure they could fit him under the $14 million NBA salary cap before matching Roberts` offer. NBA rules allow teams to exceed the cap to sign their free agents but not to sign their draft picks.

Dallas` offer sheet included a one-year, no-trade clause for 1992-93, meaning Roberts would have to give his permission on any trade. NBA rules, though, prohibit a trade to Dallas for one year.

NBA OFFER SHEETS

Since the NBA`s current bargaining agreement was reached in 1988, 16 restricted free agents have signed offer sheets: